Later this year, readers at libraries and schools will be able to borrow full titles using OverDrive Read. The browser-based technology provides new, efficient ways for publishers and authors to promote titles. Because each eBook “sample” has a unique URL, libraries and readers can share titles via social media and other online channels by sending or posting links.

eBook samples viewed since OverDrive Read introduced (early Sept.): up 783% from March

OverDrive Read is compatible with most computers and devices that use a modern web browser, including tablets, laptops and smartphones. Check out samples of “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,” “Game of Thrones” and “Heaven is for Real” to see how OverDrive Read mimics the experience of thumbing through a title at the library or bookstore.

Michael Lovett is Public Relations and Social Media Specialist at OverDrive.

OverDrive Read will enable offline reading. While a user must be online in order to first access titles via OverDrive Read, the HTML5-based technology will store checked-out titles in the device’s cache for offline use, with the titles expiring at the end of the lending period. Make sense? -Mike

Our library system uses IE 8. We are experiencing problems (lagging, timing out) when attempting to install the Google Chrome plug-in required to access the new OverDrive Read samples. Installation of other browsers is not a viable option for us. Any advice?

OverDrive READ requires the use of the Google Chrome Frame plugin for Internet Explorer. Please note that the plugin does not work with the 64-bit version of IE. That said, the 32-bit version of IE will work fine with the plugin. If you are already using the 32-bit version of IE, and are still unable to install the plugin, then the problem may be due to not having admin level privileges on the computer in use.

Could you be more specific about how to use OverDrive Read to read a book offline. You wrote above (#2) that the book will be stored in the device’s cache but I’m not sure how to find it on my computer or device–Nook Tablet.